Mixing machine gearing



MIXING MACHINE GEARING Filed Oct. 3, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VARIABLE v SPEED 76 DRIVE INVENTOR LOUIS F. THIEL ATTORNEY 5 1943- L. F. THIEL 2,457,612

M IXING MACHINE GEARING Filed Oct 3, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LOUIS F. THlEL,

ATTORNEY FIG. 2

Patented Dec. 28,1948

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I MIXING MACHINE GEARING Louis F. Thiel, Springfield Gardens, N. Y., as-

signor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application October 3, 1944, Serial No. 556,937

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to vertical mixers, more particularly to vertical mixers of the type wherein a beater shaft on which the mixing beater is supported is revolved on its own axis and simultaneously moved in an orbital path. Heretofore vertical mixers have been built with a single precession ratio, that is the ratio of the number of revolutions the beater makes on its axis while com- A pletlng one circuit of its orbital path cannot be ,varied. However for mixing foam batches such as egg whites, a precession ratio of 2:1 has been found to be preferable, whereas for mixing cake dough a precession ratio of 4: 1 or slightly greater is desirable Since most prior vertical mixers have a single precession ratio lying within the range between approximately 3:1 and approximately 4:1, it has not been possible with prior vertical mixers to employ the most efiicient precession ratios for mixing "foam batches" and dough.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a vertical mixer with a construction capable of varying the precession ratio of the rotation of the beater shaft relative to the revolving beater head which carries the beater shaft in an orbital path. In this respect the invention resembles the constructions shown in the prior application of T. Jensen, Serial No. 523,031, filed February 19, 1944, on which Patent No. 2,404,380 issued July 23, 1936, wherein there is disclosed a vertical mixer whose precession ratio of the rotation of the beater shaft and the beater head may be varied. However my construction is less complicated and more durable than the constructions shown in said patent. It may be noted that with my constructlon there is only a small variation in the beater speed when changing from one precession ratio to another.

It is a further object ofthe invention to vary the speed of the beater shaft to suit the particular materials which are being mixed. For example the beater speed cannot be very much higher than 300 rip. m., when mixing egg whites, in order to avoid splashing of the materials. Moreover, to incorporate the flour added after the egg whites and sugar of a sponge cake batch have been mixed at a speed of approximately 240 r. p. m., the'speed of the beater shaft is lowered to about 180 r. p. in. To this end in the particular embodiment of the invention shown herein a variable speed drive is employed to drive the beater head and the beater. Therefore the speed of the beater shaft may be regulated without varying the precession ratio and the precession ratio and beater speed may be varied simultaneously to suit the particular ingredients being mixed. With the Reeves drive employed in my construction, the particular speed of the beater shaft desired may be obtained for most eflicient mixing.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig, 1 is aside elevation of a vertical mixer exemplifying the invention, a portion of the head enclosing the variable speed drive being broken away to expose the same;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the mixing head andbeater head of the mixer shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the mixer is provided with a base l0 supporting a movable head I: having downwardly extending columns (not shown) slidably mounted in base Hi to permit the head to be raised with respect to the base. In Fig, 1 the head I 2 is shown in its lower or mixing position wherein it rests on the top of base I0; and the mixing bowl I4, which is provided with a circumferential band [6 resting on a saddle I8 is shown supported in mixing position. The saddle is slidably mounted on upright columns 20 of basescribed, from a mixing head or gear housing 32 integral with the head 12. After the mixing operation is completed the head I2 is elevated by mechanism (not shown) similar to that of the Dehuff Patent 2,181,079, and the saddle is lowered to permit removal of the mixing bowl. Description of the construction of the mechanism for elevating the head l2 and saddle I6 is deemed unnecessary, since reference may be had to said Dehuff patent for the details thereof.

One end of a horizontal shaft 34 is supported in a suitable bearing in the mixing head 32, and shaft 34 projects from the mixing headand constitutes the driven shaft of the Reeves drive which is enclosed in the head 12 and indicated in Fig. 1 by the legend Variable speed drive. The drive shaft 36 of this variable speed drive is supported in head l2 and driven from a motor (not shown).

The construction of the variable speed drive is 3 Y i to that shown in the Dehufi Patent 2,181,079 and the above mentioned Patent No. 2,404,380, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

On the inner end of the shaft 34 is secured a bevel gear 38 which drives a bevel gear 40 keyed on the vertical center shaft 42. The upper end of shaft 42 is supported in roller bearings 44 provided in head 32, and its central portion is provided with roller bearings 45 carried by a stationary sleeve 48 having a horizontal flange 48 secured to the bottom of head 32.

A beater head 50 is revolubly mounted on roller bearings 52 and 54 provided on sleeve 48. A re-- taining ring 56 is threaded on the lower end of sleeve 48 and supports the rollerbearing 54 assists d orbital path. Since the shaft 66 is driven through gears 52 and 64 from the shaft 42 it will revolve upon its own axis while being carried in an orbital path by the beater head 50.

against an internal shoulder formed on the lower end of a sleeve portion 58 formed on beater ead 50. The lower end of shaft 42 is supported by ball bearings '60 in the lower end of sleeve 58, and on the portion of shaft 42 projecting from bearings 80 is secured a gear 62 driving a gear 64. Gear 64 is keyed on a beater shaft 66 whose upper end is supported in roller bearings 58 in the beater head 56. Gear 64 is supported by roller bearings Ill supported in a cover plate I2 secured to a cover 14 fastened to the lower end of a circum-' ferential flange it on beater head '50. To the horizontal flange 49 of sleeve 48 is fastened a ring I8 surrounding the upper end of flange I6.

On the portion of the hub of gear 64 projecting downwardly through an aperture in cover plate 72 is mounted a beater drive clutch. The latter includes a sleeve 80 fastened on the hub of ear 54 and having downwardly extending arms 82 provided with inwardly projecting lugs 84 on which diametrically opposite lugs on the inserted shank of the beater rest. A ring 88, which is movable vertically on arms 82 and retained thereon by a split ring 88 has a series of inwardly projecting lugs which engage the lugs on the inserted beater shank and thereby drive the beater. Since the construction of the beater drive clutch is similar to that shown in the patent to W. F. Dehufi 1392,3813, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

On the upper end of center shaft 42 is keyed a pinion or gear 90, and on the hub of bevel gear 49 is keyed a pinion oz. The gears 90 and92 drive spur gears 94 and 96 respectively, which revolve freely on sleeves 95 and 9'! on a jack shaft 98. The upper end of the latter is supported in ballsbearingsillll carried by a cover plate I 02 fastened to the top of mixer head 32. The lower end of shaft 98 is mounted in ball bearings Hi4 supported in the flange 49 of the stationary sleeve 48, and on the portion of shaft 98 projecting through bearings I04 is secured a spur gear I08 meshing with a ring gear I08 provided with external gear teeth and secured on a circumferential flange M0 on the top of the beater head Flange H0 is provided with an internal shoulder which supports the roller bearing 52 against the lower face of flange 49.

- egg whites, etc.

On the portion of shaft '98 intermediate the i gears 94 and 96 is splined a cone clutch member H2 having a circumferential flange I I3 at its lower end. Flange H3 is-provided with a conical face which may be taperedwith an angle slightly greater than a Morse taper, shownfiengaged in Fig. 2 with a conical-face having a similar taper formed on the rim of gear 96. Thus the shaft 98 is driven from gear 98 through clutch member When the shaft 98 is driven through clutch I I2 from gear 98, the number of revolutions which" the beater shaft I56 will make on its own axis while making a complete circuit of its orbital path, that is to say the precession ratio, is determined by the gear ratios of the gear trains 92, 96 and N6, I08 and the gear ratios of the trains 38, 40 and 62, -64. These gear ratios may be proportioned to establish a precession ratioof approximately 2:1, that is two revolutions of the beater shaft 66 on its own axis for every complete revolution of the beater head.

To vary this precession ratio the clutch member H2, which has on its upper end a circumferenti-al flange H4 provided with a tapered face similar-to the tapered face of flange I I3, may be shifted upwardly on shaft 98 to bring the tapered face of flange II4 into driving engagement with an internal tapered face on a circumferential flange III; formed on the web of gear 94. For this purpose-a yoke member I26 whose hub is secured on a shaft I22 supported in head 32, carries rollers I24 engaging a circumferential recess formed in the portion of clutch member H2 intermediate flanges H3 and I I4. 0n the end of shaft I22 projecting from head 32 is fastened a crank handle I26. When handle I26 is turned upwardly in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the flange H3 of clutch member H2 is disengaged from gear 96 and the flange H4 thereof is brought into driving engagement with gear 9-4. Now the shaft 98 will be driven. from gear 96 through clutch member H2 to revolve the beater head at a lower speed and thereby obtain a high precession ratio of the rotation of the beater shaft and the beater head. As shown in the drawings, the pitch diameters of the gears and 94 may be sufficiently different from the pitch diameters of gears 92 and to obtain a precession ratio of approximately 4:1. The lower precession ratio established when the shaft 98 is driven from gear 96 through clutch member H2 is suitable for mixing foam batches such as The higher precession ratio is desirable for mixing dough. If desired the gears 90 and 94 may be replaced by gears of different pitch diameter to obtain a greater precession ratio than 4:1.

For certain conditions it may be advantageous to reduce or increase the speed at which the beater shaft 66 is driven. Therefore the variable speed drive can be adjusted to drive the shaft 42 at a greater or lower speed. While variation of axis, of a vertical center shaft concentric with the axis of rotation .of said head, means for driving said center shaft, a vertical shaft revolubly mounted in said head with its axis eccentric to H2 and the beater head 50 is revolved upon the stationary sleeve 48 to carry the beater shaft 66 together with beater 30 supported thereon in an the axis of rotation of said head, means driven from said center shaft for revolving said eccentric shaft on its own axis, a. pair of pinions secured on said center shaft, a vertical jack shaft, a gear fastened on said head, a gear fastened on said jack shaft and meshing with and driving the gearon said head to revolve the head, a pair of mounted gears on said Jack shaft to revolve said head at a different speed and thereby vary the precession ratio of the rotation of the vertical shaft on its own axis relative to the rotation of the head.

2. In a mixer, the combination with a head revolubly mounted for rotation about a stationary axis, of a shaft revolubly mounted in said head with its axis of rotation eccentric to the axis of rotation of said head whereby said shaft will be moved in an orbital path upon rotation of said head, means for driving said shaft to revolve it on its own axis while it is moved in an orbital path by said head, a gear rigidly secured to said head, a pinion meshing with and driving said gear, and mechanism driven from said shaft driving means for driving said pinion and there-- by revolving said head to move said shaft in an orbital path with a predetermined precession ratio of the rotation of said eccentric shaft and and thereby varying the speed at which said head is driven while the speed'of the vertical eccentric shaft remains approximately the same, to vary the precession ratio of the rotation of the vertical eccentric shaft on its own axis relative to the rotation of the head.

5. In a mixer, the combination with a head revolubly mounted for rotation about a stationary axis, of a vertical shaft revolubly mounted in said head with its axis eccentric to the axis of rotation of the head, means for driving said vertical eccentric shaft at a plurality of different speeds to revolve it on its own axis while it is carried in an orbital path by the rotation of the head, a jack shaft, means driven from said jack shaft for driving said head to revolve the head on its axis of rotation, and a device for driving said jack shaft, said device including a pair of rotably mounted co-axiai driving .clutch elements, driving mechaniem for driving said elements at different speeds, and a complementary driven clutch element having driving engagement with said jack shaft, and

, selectively movable into driven engagement with,

head, said mechanism including a variable speed drive driven from said shaft driving means and connected to and driving said pinion and adapted to vary the speed at which said pinion drives said head to thereby vary the precession ratio of the rotation of said eccentric shaft relative to the rotation of said head.

3. In a mixer, the combination with a head revolubly mounted for rotation about a stationary axis, of a vertical shaft revoiubly'mounted in said head with its axis eccentric to the axis of rotation of the head, means for driving the vertical eccentric shaft to revolve said shaft on its own axis while it is carried in an orbital path by the rotation of said head, a plurality of clutch elements, mechanism for driving said clutch elements at relatively different speeds, driving means connected to said head and including a complementary clutch element selectively movable into operative relation with either one of said plurality of clutch elements whereby said head may be revolved at either of a plurality of different speeds while the vertical eccentric shaft revolves at approximately the same speed and thereby establish a plurality of different precession ratios of the rotation of the vertical eccentric shaft relative to the rotation of the head.

4. In a mixer, the combination with a head revolubly mounted for rotation about a stationary axis, of a vertical shaft revolubly mounted in said head with its axis eccentric to the axis of rotation of said head, means for driving said vertical eccentric shaft at a plurality of different speeds to revolve it on its own axis while it is carried in an orbital path by the rotation of the head, a gear fastened on said head, a Jack shaft mounted for rotation ona stationary axis, a gear mounted on said jack shaft and meshing with and driving the gear on said head to revolve the head and thereby move the vertical eccentric shaft in an orbital path, and mechanism for driving said jack shaft, said mechanism being driven from the means for driving the vertical eccentric shaft and including a device for varying the speed at which the jack shaft is driven either of said driving clutch elements.

6. In a mixer, the combination with a beater head revolubly mounted for rotation about a sta tionary axis, of a vertical shaft revolubly mounted in said head with its axis eccentric to the axis of rotation of the head, means for driving said vertical eccentric shaft at a plurality of different speeds to revolve it on its own axis while it is carriedin an orbital path by the rotation of the head, a jack shaft, means driven from said jack shaft for driving said head to revolve the head on its axis of rotation, and a device for driving said jack shaft, said device including a pair of rotatably mounted co-axiai driving clutch elements, driving mechanism for driving said elements at different speeds, and a complementary d1 iven clutch element having driving engagement with said jack shaft, and selectively movable into driven engagement with either of said driving clutch elements, all of said clutch elements being supported on said jack shaft for rotation on the same axis.

7. A mixer comprising a support revoiuble about a vertical axis, a vertical shaft revolubly mounted in said support with its axis eccentric to the axis of rotation of said support, a variable speed drive connected to said shaft for driving the same at various speeds, and a speed changing device driven from said variable speed drive and connected to and driving said support to cause said support to revolve and carry said shaft in an orbital path, said speed changing device including instrumentalities for increasing or decreasing the rotational speed of said support by small incre- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,167,336 Clark Jan. 4, 1916 1,264,128 Rataiczak Apr. 23, 1918 1,785,562 Schiff Dec. 16, 1930 1,859,690 Aeschbach May 24, 1932 2,341,756

v Avila Feb. 15, 1944 

